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Find your local specialistA fine and very rare gold and enamel watch case mounted as a snuff box
the circular base with very finely painted enamel scene depicting the 'Abduction of Europa' the band painted with landscape scenes, and blue Devils heads, the hinged lid painted with semi-naked lady with her female attendants surrounded by enamel flowers with gold scroll work, the fine gold band decorated with champleve enamel in relief, inside case and lid with fine painted enamel scenes, together with mid 18th century fitted box 50mm dia. x 35mm high.
Footnotes
for a similar example see lot 113 in Antiquorum's Exceptional Horological Sale, Geneva 24th of April 2004.
In Greek mythology Europa was the beautiful Phoenician princess, daughter of the king of Tyre.
Europa and her friends were at the meadow by the sea, happily gathering wild flowers on a mild Spring day. Jupiter, saw her and lusted for her. He then had his son Hermes drive the herd of Agenor towards the sea shore where the young girls were playing. Zeus then changed into a magnificent white bull, and mingled with the herd. The beautiful bull, stood out from the rest of the herd, and the young girls, especially Europa, could not take their eyes off him. The bull then ambled over and knelt by Europa, lowering his head gently, inviting her to stroke him. Europa then put garlands of flowers on its neck and horns and then climbed onto his back. The bull took off and dove into the sea and carried Europa to the island of Crete, where he then transformed back into Zeus, and seduced her beneath a cypress tree.
Europa was the first queen of Crete and had three sons by Zeus. Europa became the mother of King Minos. Zeus reproduced the shape of Zeus's white bull in the stars. as the constellation Taurus.